By Delwin Neblett | HGP Nightly News |
From record-breaking throws in the “Mining Town” to a dominant batting display by the West Indies in Kolkata, it has been a high-octane week for Guyanese and regional sports. Here is your comprehensive wrap for Friday, February 20, 2026.
Athletics: Leslain Baird Sets New Mark at Bayroc
Guyana’s premier javelin thrower, Leslain Baird, has officially made his mark on the newly opened Bayroc National Stadium in Linden.
- The Throw: Competing at the 2nd CARIFTA Games Trials last Saturday, the GDF athlete delivered a winning distance of 68.56 meters.
- Stadium Records: Baird now holds the stadium record at both the Bayroc facility and the National Track & Field Centre in Leonora (77.23m). He has vowed to push the Linden record even further as the 2026 season progresses.
Football: Slingerz FC Dismantle Ann’s Grove in Elite League Cup
The GFF Elite League Cup continued on Wednesday night at the National Training Centre in Providence with two lopsided encounters.
- Match 1: Santos FC edged out Den Amstel FC with a narrow 1-0 victory, thanks to a clinical strike from Shakeel King.
- Match 2: Slingerz FC sent a message to the league with a massive 8-0 thrashing of Ann’s Grove United FC. Darron Niles and Kemar Beckford were the stars of the show, each netting a hattrick. Curtez Kellman and Raushan Ritch added to the tally in the goal-fest.
Cricket: Georgetown U-19s Crush East Bank
The DCB Inter-Association U-19 50-Overs Tournament saw a bowling masterclass at the Police Sports Club Ground on Wednesday.
- The Collapse: East Bank was bundled out for a meager 38 runs in just 19.2 overs. Emmanuel Lewis and Shane Prince led the destruction with 3 wickets each.
- The Chase: Georgetown needed only 7.1 overs to reach 45-2, securing an 8-wicket win. West Indies U-19 standout Shamar Apple finished the game in style with a massive six.
- Next Up (Friday): * West Demerara vs. Upper Demerara (Meten-Meer-Zorg)
- East Bank vs. East Coast (Eve Leary)
Cricket: Windies Women Retain Guyanese Trio for Sri Lanka Series
The West Indies Senior Women’s side has named its squad for the highly anticipated domestic series against Sri Lanka, which bowls off today, Friday, February 20th, in Grenada.
- Guyana Represented: Shemaine Campbell, Ashmini Munisar, and Realeanna Grimmond have all retained their places in the squad.
- Leadership Shift: Hayley Williams returns as Captain following an injury layoff. Notably, Chinelle Henry takes over as Vice Captain, replacing Campbell in the leadership role. The series includes 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is, concluding on March 3rd.
World Cup: West Indies Secure Comfortable Win Over Italy
In the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the West Indies continued their strong form with a victory over Italy at Eden Gardens in Kolkata earlier today.
- Batting Performance: The Windies posted 165-6, led by a brilliant 75 from Captain Shai Hope. Sherfane Rutherford added a quick-fire 24* at the death.
- Bowling Dominance: Italy was bowled out for 123 in 18 overs. Shamar Joseph was clinical, taking 4-30, while Matthew Forde provided excellent support with 3-19.
